Controversial moves were being made last night to force councils to help travellers find permanent camp sites in the West. The requirement for councils to provide such sites was removed in the mid-1990s by the then Conservative Government. But last night it emerged that the restoration of council responsibility to provide suitable sites could be complete by the end of the next Parliamentary session. Last night Kevin McNamara, chairman of the All-Party Group for Traveller Law Reform, said he hoped the legislation could be tacked on to the end the Housing Bill currently going through Parliament.

Marauding travellers caused tens of thousands of pounds of damage during a three-week wrecking spree at a West gypsy camp, it was revealed yesterday. The residents of the site near Tintinhull in Somerset, which had just received a £500,000 refurbishment, were forced to watch in horror as toilets, showers and fences were wrecked. Buildings were stripped and tonnes of rubbish left behind - as well as a £100,000 bill to repair the damage.

An army of Irish travellers caused damage costing £100,000 at a gypsy campsite in a picturesque Somerset village, the Western Daily Press can reveal today. More than 100 travellers stormed the campsite close to Tintinhull, near Yeovil, Somerset, trashing buildings, breaking windows and leaving behind tonnes of rubbish.

Around 30 travellers have been evicted from a site in Christchurch, Dorset Police said. The travellers had ignored an order to move onto a designated camping ground and had continued to camp illegally at the land near Somerford Road. Nine caravans were moved, one stolen caravan and four suspected stolen bicycles were recovered, and three caravans were towed away by Dorset Police to be held at Christchurch Police Station awaiting collection by their owners.

Fears that traveller groups would set up in the countryside around one of the UK's biggest steam fairs have been tackled, council chiefs say. Powers to move on travellers from private sites have been used for the first time by North Dorset District Council and the police. Travellers visiting this week's Great Dorset Steam Fair have been moved on to a council paid-for site in Stourpaine. Residents in the area have been assured the site will be well-managed.

Dorset Police has recovered 22 stolen caravans from people attending the Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford. The caravans, several of which are worth more than of £20,000 each, were discovered, as part of a national crackdown mounted to combat the continued thefts of caravans across the country.

Around 30 travellers have been evicted from a site in Christchurch, Dorset Police said. The travellers had ignored an order to move onto a designated camping ground and had continued to camp illegally at the land near Somerford Road. Nine caravans were moved, one stolen caravan and four suspected stolen bicycles were recovered, and three caravans were towed away by Dorset Police to be held at Christchurch Police Station awaiting collection by their owners.

They haven't moved far, Just down the road to Bransgore in Hampshire, where they have set up camp in the New Forest, no doubt so that they can dump all thier crap for the wild animals to eat and choke on.

Official statistics show that most of the 370,900 Gypsies in Bulgaria live in misery, with unemployment among them at 50 percent, and roughly two-thirds of those out of work blaming White Bulgarians for their condition.

TRAVELLERS have moved onto land belonging to Sir George Meyrick at Hinton. Paul Hanson, chief executive of the Meyrick Estate, said four caravans had been towed on to a field off the Bransgore road behind the Cat and Fiddle pub on Friday (Sept 3) He did not know whether they were part of the group of travellers who had antagonised Christchurch residents at 2Riversmeet and then at PC World's car park in Somerford, or were another band altogether.

IN LESS than four hours more than a thousand people in Christchurch signed a petition calling for a change in the law to give councils more power to evict bands of unwanted travellers. It follows a bitter row between townspeople and travellers from a Gypsy encampment, which sprung up in the arena behind the 2Riversmeet sports centre nearly six weeks ago, sparking scores of complaints from angry residents about mess, noise, petty crimes and loss of public amenities.

A TEENAGE mother whose human rights opened the door for a growing band of travellers to remain on a sports arena in Christchurch has left the site and gone to stay with relatives in London. Travellers used the post-natal plight of Eleanor Berry, 18, to successfully fight an eviction order served by Christchurch council earlier this month when a steel barrier was broken and 11 caravans moved into the amphitheatre behind the town's 2 Riversmeet sports centre.

Official statistics show that most of the 370,900 Gypsies in Bulgaria live in misery, with unemployment among them at 50 percent, and roughly two-thirds of those out of work blaming White Bulgarians for their condition.

"Unemployed"? Since when did gyppos take up proper employment? You can't count gyppos in unemployment statistics, they live on the proceeds of theft and deception and have no desire to seek proper employment whatsoever.

MINISTERS want councils to earmark land for gypsies to buy so they can establish permanent sites within local communities. They are trying to end the legal battles and upset that residents suffer when gypsies establish illegal camps without planning permission. The proposal is expected to be detailed in a review of travellers’ sites by John Prescott’s deputy prime minister’s office.